7 times 7 - the grace in remembering

Psalm 106:7 "Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; they did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea."

Many times our doubt or fear come from the uncertainty of life. The Israelites had left the Egyptians behind, reeling from the plagues and death which came to every first born. Power that had never been seen before had been displayed and the people of God are now in the wilderness, going to a place still not known to them. In Exodus 14 a picture is painted for us - the Red Sea before them, Pharaoh and his armies marching behind them and they panic. They ask a great question "were there not enough graves in Egypt that you take us out to die in the wilderness?". One hardship to another. Slavery and bondage to certain death by the sword.

Despite God having revealed Himself in great wonders, the Israelites had already forgotten His power and moved on to their present, seemingly impossible circumstance. This type of rebellion is probably the easiest for us to commit - because we simply lack the ability to imagine our salvation in the midst of the impossible.  Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we could ask or think....." - this is a great prayer because is takes us beyond ourselves. Would the Israelites prayed "Lord dry up this land so we can cross."? Would the military leaders tell Joshua "You know a new strategy to try - let's just march around the walls of Jericho instead of attacking them and see what happens."?

When Lazarus was dying, Jesus said "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." (John 11:4) He knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, but only in His time.

We don't enjoy waiting because it highlights our limitations. We feel vulnerable and out of control - it is these times that we see ourselves for who we really are - small and needy. For some reason, we equate that as being a bad thing. A child doesn't feel guilty about being a child, but rather asks for help with the expectation that help indeed will come. Jesus says in Matthew 7 "If you then,  being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him."

God knows we don't understand His ways, because they are so much higher and great than ours (Isaiah 55:9) but His love is also much deeper and richer than we can comprehend (Eph 3:18). C. S. Lewis writes in "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" that Aslan is not tame, but He is good.

We are tempted to want a tame lion- one who will do only what we ask and be predictable and submissive to us. But when we look for that type of God, one we control, we limit Him to our mortal realm, finite imagination and feeble understanding. When instead, we accept the Lion as He is, all powerful, all mighty, infinite and immortal - and good - we find that He has the love to lead us to that future and hope - and the power to part the sea or raise the dead to get us there.

God gives us examples of both His power and love, knowing we will have times of impatience and confusion and even doubt. But He will not give us anything less than His perfect will, because He is good. Remember His kindnesses - even when you do not understand, and you will find yourself carried safely to dry land. He may part the way in front of you or call you to walk on the waves - but He will carry you safely home.